Article dispenser with yieldable wall discharge assistant



Aprii H, 1967 w. H RHINDRESS ARTICLE DISPENSER WITH YIELDABLE WALLDISCHARGE ASSISTANT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 5, 1965 Wa/fer H Hhmdrws1N VENTOR.

Apzrfl ill, 3%? w. H. RHlNDRESS 3,313,451

ARTICLE DISPENSER WITH YIELDABLE WALL DISCHARGE ASSISTANT Filed Oct. 5,1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

Wa/fer H. Rhindmw INVENTOK United States Patent C) 3,313,451 ARTICLEDISPENSER WITH YIELDABLE WALL DISCHARGE ASSISTANT Walter H. Rhindress,()cean Ridge, Fla. (121 Hancock St, Braintree, Mass. 02184) Filed Oct.5, 1965, Ser. No. 493,175 9 Claims. c1. 22r 243 The instant invention isgenerally concerned with food warmers, and more particularly relates toa roll or biscuit warmer wherein the rolls can be selectively withdrawn,in substantially predetermined portions, while still maintaining theremaining rolls within the sealed warmer.

In addition, it is a significant object of the instant invention toprovide a roll Warmer wherein specific provision is made so as to avoidany crushing of the rolls as they are being dispensed or removed.

Further, it is a significant object of the instant inven tion to providea food warmer capable of storing and warming a substantial amount ofrolls with the rolls, immediately prior to being removed, beingsubjected to the greatest amount of heat.

Also, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a food warmerwherein the internal construction is such so as to automaticallyposition the rolls for dispensing through a sliding drawer.

Likewise, an important object of the instant invention is to provide awarmer incorporating two compartments for the storage and dispensing ofdifferent types of rolls.

Furthermore, it is considered a significant object of the instantinvention to provide means whereby the number of rolls dispensed can bevaried.

Basically, the warmer of the instant invention consists of a dualcompartment closed container, each compartment having an enlarged lidclosed upper end providing access to an upper storage chamber. Thischamber contains downwardly and inwardly inclined peripheral directingwalls so as to in effect funnel the rolls downwardly onto a slidingplatform which is in turn releasably connected to a drawer within thelower part of the compartment. As the drawer is opened, or slid from thecompartment, the platform is simultaneously drawn along with it so as tomove a predetermined amount of rolls into a separation area, with theseparticular rolls subsequently being dropped into the subjacent drawer asthe drawer is returned into the compartment. Upon again opening thedrawer, the rolls therein are moved outward of the Warmer for removaltherefrom while a subsequent number of rolls are introduced into theseparation section. The drawer itself is releasably engaged with theplatform so as to prevent any crushing of the rolls should a jamming ofthe platform occur as shall be discussed in more detail presently.Finally, any suitable heating element is to be located preferablyimmediately above the bottom wall of the container so as to provide thedesired heating of the rolls.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the food warmer comprising the instantinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view through the warmerillustrating the dual compartments;

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 are enlarged partial crosssectional views through thefood warmer taken substantially on line 3-3 in FIGURE 2 and illustratingvarious steps in the selective dispensing of the rolls;

Ice

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the drawer of the warmer; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the sliding tray portion of thewarmer.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 isused to generally designate the food warmer of the instant invention,this food warmer being equally adaptable for many types of food,notwithstanding the fact that it has been specifically illustrated ascontaining rolls or heated buns.

The warmer itself includes a bottom 12, top 14, side walls 16, a backwall 18, a front wall 20, and an internal divider wall 22 extendingcentrally from front to rear so as to define dual compartments 24. Thefront wall 2%, as will be appreciated from FIGURE 1, includes a window26 in the upper portion thereof so as to allow a viewing of the interiorof both compartments 24. The top 14 consists of a pair of lids 28 hingedtogether over the divider wall 22 and selectively covering the twocompartments 24. Each lid 28 includes a depending flange 30 on the threefree edges thereof which seat on shoulders 32 about the upper ends ofthe Walls 16, 18 and 20 so as to provide a sealed closure.

The actual dispensing of the rolls 34 from each compartment 24 isthrough the lower portion of the front wall 20 below the window 26 bymeans of a sliding drawer 36, and a tray 38 selectively engaged with andmovable with the drawer 36. The drawer 36, preferably rectangular inshape, is of a depth from front to rear equal to approximately one-halfthe depth of the corresponding compartment 24 and includes a forwardlyprojecting handle 40 which can be grasped when it is desired to pull thedrawer outward. The tray 38, associated with each drawer 36 and slightlydeeper than the drawer, includes a fiat perforated table-like portion 42which overlays the back wall 44 of the drawer. In addition, the tray 38has a full width depending forward flange 46 resting on the bottom 48 ofthe drawer 36, and a depending rear flange 50 resting on the floor 52 ofthe compartment 24 rearward of the drawer rear wall 44, both of thesedepending flanges 46 and 59 having the lower edges thereof curled so asto slide freely on their supporting surfaces. Fixed to the front face ofthe forward flange adjacent the lower edge thereof, and projectingforwardly therefrom, is a magnetic element 56. This magnetic element '56aligns with a similar magnetic element 58 fixed to a central point onthe inner face of the drawer bottom 48 in alignment therewith, themagnetic attraction between the elements 56 and 58 being such so as tofix the tray 38 to the drawer 36 for movement therewith under normalloading conditions as shall be described presently.

As will be best appreciated from FIGURES 3 and 4, it is intended thatonly a substantially predetermined number of rolls 34 be dispensed atany one time with these rolls being dispensed while generallymaintaining the sealed condition of the warmer 10. Accordingly, aseparator member or plate 60 is mounted on the interior of the frontwall 2% fo vertical adjustment thereon. The plate 66 projects inwardlyand downwardly above the drawer 36 and tray 33 and terminates in arounded edge 62 which acts so as to separate the rolls 34 as the drawer36 and tray 38 are drawn forwardly. In addition, a flap 63 is pivoted tothe inner edge 65 of the plate 60 for movement from a vertical position,as indicated in FIGURE 3 and defined by a stop or abutment face 64, tothe upwardly pivoted position of FIGURES 4 and 5. Thus, the plate 60will pivot upwardly so as to allow free movement of the rolls forwardlyinto the separating chamber 66 while restricting their return upon aclosing of the drawer and tray unit. The vertically adjustable nature ofthe plate 60 in each compartment 24 is effected by means of a pair ofbolts 67, with mating nuts 68, extending through holes in the front wallportion of the compartment and through vertically elongated slots 69 inan integral vertical flange 70 on the corresponding plate 60. In thismanner, when the plate 69 is to be vertically adjusted to accommodate adifferent size or quantity of rolls, the bolts 67 are loosened, theplate adjusted, and the bolts retightened.

With continuing reference to FIGURES 3 and 4, it will be noted that asthe drawer 33 is pulled outward through the handle 40 the tray 38 isdrawn along therewith, thus moving the rolls 34 resting on the forwardportion of the tray tabletop 42 into selecting portion 66 of thecompartment below the plate 66, the rounded edge 62 and the inclinedplate 69 acting so as to separate a predetermined amount of the rollsthat are moving forward. When the drawer 36 has been opened, the rollspreviously located therein are easily accessible through the open topwith the next bunch of rolls to be dispensed being located within theselecting chamber 66 adjacent the front wall 20. As the drawer 36, andconsequently the tray 38, is returned into the warmer 10, rearwardmovement of the rolls on the tray top 42 is prevented both by the flap63 and by the manner in which the upper rolls will normally slide orfunnel down the inclined surfaces of the separator member 69 and theadditional inclined plates 72 fixed to the side and rear walls of eachcompartment. It will be recognized from the drawings that the plates 72terminate just above the tray top 42. Upon a return of the drawer 36 andtray 38, the selected rolls are allowed to drop into the forward portionof the drawer 36 forward of the depending front fiange -46 of the tray38 as seen in FIGURE 3, thus providing another supply of rolls fordispensing upon an opening of the drawer 36.

The aforementioned selectively disengageable magnetic engagement betweenthe drawer 36 and tray 38 is of particular significance in ensuring aproper dispensing of the rolls 34, notwithstanding a tendency for therolls 34 to jam due to both variations in the actual sizes of the rollsand the free manner in which they are maintained within the upperportion of the compartment 64. This operation will be best appreciatedfrom FIGURE wherein it will be noted that one roll 34' has beenillustrated as being jammed between the front wall 24) and the frontedge of the tray 38. However, when this occurs the slight increase inthe pull necessary to continue the outward movement of the drawer 36results in an immediate severing of the magnetic connection between theelements 56 and 58 prior to any serious crushing of the roll 34-. Afterthe rolls have been removed from the extended drawer under theconditions illustrated in FIGURE 5, a return of this drawer 36 into thewarmer will result in an automatic engagement between the elements 56and 58 and a continuing operation of the dispensing of the rolls asdescribed supra.

The actual heating of the rolls is preferably achieved through theprovision of any suitable electric heating element 74 within the warmerbetween the bottom 12 and the floor 52, suitable insulation 76 of coursealso being provided as needed. As noted supra, in order to ensure aproper heating of the rolls 34, the table portion 42 of the tray 33 canhave a plurality of heat-passing perforations therein as desired. Bylocating the heating element 74 within the bottom of the warmer 10, itwill be appreciated that those rolls 34 to be immediately dispensedreceive the greatest amount of heat immediately prior to beingdispensed, particularly those rolls resting directly within the drawer36. The heating element '74 will of course incorporate a suitableelectrical wire or conductor (not illustrated), as well. as anexternally mounted suitable combination switch and control.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a novel food warmer hasbeen described, this food warmer incorporating unique means for theselective dispensing of a substantially predtermined number of rollsfrom either of two compartments while maintaining the generally sealednature of the warmer so as to prevent the escape of the warm air. Inaddition, the warmer of the instant invention, as detailed supra, alsoprovides for a dispensing of the rolls in a manner so as to avoid anydanger of the roll being crushed or the dispensing drawer jammingthereby achieving a high degree of efficiency.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

'1. In a food warmer, a peripheral wall defining an enlarged interiorcompartment, drawer means slidably mounted within the lower portion ofsaid compartment and selectively movable outward therefrom through aportion of said peripheral wall, means operably associated with saiddrawer means for introducing a substantially predetermined amount offood into said drawer means in response to an extension and subsequentretraction of said drawer means relative to said compartment, saiddrawer means including an open top communicating with the interior ofsaid compartment, said means operatively associated with said drawermeans including a tray overlying the inner portion of said drawer means,said tray being exposed to the interior of said compartment T andconstituting in effect a movable support for the contained food wherebya forward movement of the tray, in response to a movement of the drawermeans, results in a forward movement of the food supported thereon, andselectively severable means releasably engaging the tray with the drawermeans for an independent outward movement of the drawer means upon theencountering of a resistance to an outward movement of the tray greaterthan a predetermined resistance.

2. A food warmer comprising an enlarged internal chamber, said chamberincluding an enlarged drawer selectively movable into and out of thelower portion thereof, said drawer having an open top communicating withthe interior of said chamber, a fiat tray overlying the rear portion ofsaid drawer, means selectively fixing said tray to said drawer formovement therewith, said means being selectively severable upon theencountering of a predetermined resistance to movement of said tray withsaid drawer, and separating means projecting inwardly of said chamber inspaced relation over the forward portion of said drawer so as to definea segregated section within said chamber to which food contained withinsaid chamber can only be introduced by being carried on said tray movingin conjunction with said drawer.

3. A food warmer comprising an enlarged internal chamber, divider meansdividing said chamber into two compartments, heating means for heatingthe contents of said chamber, each compartment including an enlargeddrawer selectively movable into and out of the lower portion thereof,said drawer having an open top commnnicating with the interior of saidcompartment, a flat tray overlying the rear portion of said drawer, saidtray projecting rearwardly beyond the rear of said drawer,

reans selectively fixing said tray to said drawer for movementtherewith, said means being selectively severable upon the encounteringof a predetermined resistance to movement of said tray with said drawer,and separating means projecting inwardly of said compartment in spacedrelation over the forward portion of said drawer so as to define asegregated section within said compartment into which food containedwithin said compartment can only be introduced by being carried forwardon said tray moving in conjunction with said drawer.

4. A food warmer including a top, a bottom and peripheral walls definingan enlarged interior compartment, means for providing access into theupper portion of said compartment, a drawer slidably mounted within thelower portion of said compartment and selectively movable outwardtherefrom through a portion of said peripheral walls, means operablyassociated with said drawer for introducing a substantiallypredetermined amount of food into said drawer in response to anextension and subsequent retraction of said drawer relative to saidcompartment, said drawer including an open top communicating Wit-h theinterior of said compartment, said means operatively associated withsaid drawer including a tray overlying the inner portion of said drawerand projecting inwardly therefrom, means fixing said tray to said drawerfor movement therewith, said tray being exposed to the interior of saidcompartment and constituting in effect a movable support for thecontained food whereby a forward movement of the tray, in response to amovement of the drawer, results in a forward movement of the foodsupported thereon, and a separating member projecting inwardly of saidWarmer in spaced relation over the forward portion of said drawer andproviding, in conjunction with said drawer, a chamber of a size capableof accommodating only a substantially predetermined amount of food, saidtray, upon the forward movement thereof, introducing food into saidchamber for subsequent depositing into said drawer upon a retraction ofsaid drawer into said compartment below said section, the means engagingthe tray with the drawer being selectively severable upon theencountering of a resistance to an outward movement of the tray greaterthan a predetermined resistance.

5. The food warmer of claim 4 wherein said means engaging the tray withthe drawer comprises a pair of mutually attractable magnetic elements,one mounted on the tray and one mounted on the drawer.

6. The food warmer of claim 4 including a heating element incorporatedinto the bottom thereof for heating the contents of the compartment,said tray including a plurality of perforations therein so as to allowfor the passage of the heat therethrough.

7. The warmer of claim 6 wherein said compartment includes a pluralityof inclined internal surfaces extending inwardly and downwardly from thewalls thereof so as to centrally direct the food therein toward thetray.

8. The warmer of claim 7 including flap means mounted on and dependingfrom the inner end of said separating member for retaining food withinsaid chamber upon a retraction of the drawer and tray, said flap meanshaving a normal vertical orientation and pivoting upwardly toward theportion of the Walls receiving the drawer upon an introduction of foodinto said chamber through an extension of said drawer and tray.

9. The warmer of claim 8 including means mounting said separating memberfor vertical adjustment so as to vary the size of the food receivingchamber.

References {Zited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 447,267 2/1891Wood 221-256 X 1,315,416 9/1919 Rindfleisch 221-264 X 1,981,135 11/1934Block 221*264 X 2,211,799 8/1940 Tatter 22 l248 2,576,874 11/1951 Acton221-250 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,147,428 4/ 1963 Germany.

897,886 5/1962 Great Britain.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

